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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: deal · safe · board · band · cap · bore · key · can

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  14. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. board — to get on
  3. can — to be able to
  4. cap — a hat
  5. board — a committee
  6. can — a tin
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. cap — of ice
  9. key — in music
  10. bore — to drill
  11. band — a rubber band
  12. key — for a lock
  13. band — a ring
  14. band — a music group
  15. deal — to handle
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. bore — to tire
  18. key — the most important part
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. cap — a lid
  22. can — a tin
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. safe — out of danger

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com